Radamel Falcao: Chelsea on verge of loan deal for Monaco striker

   

Chelsea are on the verge of agreeing a season-long loan deal for Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.

The 29-year-old, currently with Colombia at the Copa America in Chile, scored four goals in 29 appearances for Manchester United last season.

United rejected the chance to sign him for a reported £43.2m but now the Premier League champions have moved in.

Details of an agreement that would secure Falcao a second season in the top flight are still being finalised.

On Thursday, Mourinho responded to reports linking Chelsea with a move for Falcao by saying: "It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United."

Speaking to DirecTV Sports, the Portuguese added: "If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it."

How many minutes did Costa and Falcao miss?
Diego Costa suffered several injuries for Chelsea last year, the majority of which were hamstring problems.
The Spain international played for 61% of the season as Jose Mourinho's side won the Premier League - that's 2,082 minutes from a possible 3,420.
Radamel Falcao has also struggled with his fitness since recovering from a knee ligament injury suffered in January 2014.
The Colombian striker played in just 40.8% of a possible 3,150 minutes after joining Manchester United on loan in September.

Falcao was signed by French club Monaco for £50m in 2013, having scored 70 goals in two prolific seasons with Atletico Madrid.

Before arriving in the Spanish capital in 2011, he scored 72 goals in two seasons for Portuguese side FC Porto after joining them from Argentine club River Plate in 2009.

Falcao played with Chelsea striker Diego Costa at Atletico and lined up alongside the Spain international as Mourinho's Real Madrid were beaten2-1 in the 2013 Copa del Rey final.

The Blues recently released 37-year-old striker Didier Drogba, who left the club for a second time at the end of the season.

Falcao's Colombia face an uphill task to qualify from Group C at the Copa America after losing their opening game 1-0 to Venezuela.

They play Brazil next, in a game that kicks off at 01:00 BST on Thursday

Alex Neil signs new Norwich contract

After leading the club to promotion this season, Norwich City manager Alex Neil has earned himself a new contract at the club.

Norwich City have today announced that manager Alex Neil has signed a new contract with the club.

Neil has been given what the club have called "a new and improved longer-term contract", via their website.

The Scotsman took over the Canaries in January, joining fromScottish Premiership outfit Hamilton Academical, where he had been their player/manager before earning the full managerial role on a permanent basis and leading the club to promotion to the top flight.

Neil started life at Carrow Road with a 2-1 win over eventual champions Bournemouth, and he would continue to hit these heights throughout the remainder of the season as he won 17 of his 25 games, guiding the Canaries into the play-offs. Here, they defeatedIpswich Town and Middlesbrough to secure promotion to thePremier League last month.

The 34-year-old told Norwich's club website that he was "delighted" to have signed the new deal, and "happy" to have got the situation "sorted before the [new] season gets underway." He also described how he has "really enjoyed" his time with the club so far, and hopes "it is just the beginning."

Norwich's chief executive David McNally was equally as excited with Neil putting pen to paper, admitting that the deal was "the most important piece of business" for the club this summer. McNallypraised the manager for the way "he galvanised" the team upon arrival, and stated that he was "certain that Norwich City will continue to progress" with him in charge.

As a player, Neil made his name in Scotland with Hamilton, where he made over 200 appearances in the league over 10 years. Prior to this, he enjoyed four seasons with Barnsley, again hitting triple figures in league games with the club, before spending a year withMansfield Town.

A win rate of over 52 per cent saw him turn heads North of the border when he became Hamilton's manager, eventually leading toNorwich taking him to Carrow Road where he has so far been an incredible success and will hope to keep them afloat in the English top flight next season.